Large cities expect continued delays with passports

vacation - Large cities expect continued delays with passports

The delays in issuing passports, according to statements from some Saxon cities, could still last for a while. This is due in part to the absence of child passports, and in part to making up for trips outside the EU that were not possible in the last two years due to the Corona pandemic, the City of Dresden informed the German Press Agency in response to an inquiry. It is currently unclear when the situation will ease.

Long Waiting Times Cause Frustration

"The production time for passports is currently around eight weeks," said a spokesperson. Normally, it would be two to four weeks. Therefore, there are currently 1,493 passport applications in progress in the state capital.

The City of Chemnitz also currently has approximately 1,500 passport applications at the Federal Printing Office in Berlin in production. "There are also document orders that were submitted seven weeks ago," said a spokesperson for the city. Here, too, a production time of up to eight weeks must be calculated. In Leipzig, the processing time is also up to eight weeks. Therefore, around 5,600 Leipzigers are currently waiting for their passport. The major cities of Saxony expect that the delivery times will only gradually normalize with the end of the nationwide summer holidays.

Hope in Sight

"Since the first weeks of 2024, application numbers for passports have increased significantly," it was stated in the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). In just four weeks, more than 600,000 passport applications were ordered for the first time in the history of the Federal Printing Office. "The order numbers are at a very high level but can be slightly reversed." However, more passports are still being requested than the Federal Printing Office can produce. Additional machines are expected in the winter, which should eventually lead to a sustainable easing of production times.

According to the BMI, citizens can still pick up their passport at the authority within three days with an express order. In addition, a provisional passport can be issued. Upon return, the provisional passport will be returned once the regular passport is available.

1. The delays in obtaining a passport in Chemnitz, like in other Saxon cities, are causing concern among travelers planning their vacations.
2. The Big city of Chemnitz, known for its vibrant commune life, is also experiencing the eight-week production time for passport applications.
3. The absence of child passports and the surge in passport applications due to the easing of travel restrictions in the EU after the Coronavirus pandemic have contributed to the delay.
4. The German Tourism Agencies are closely monitoring the situation, as the delay in passport issuance could potentially impact tourism in Saxony cities such as Chemnitz, Dresden, and Leipzig.
5. The Federal Printing House in Berlin, where Chemnitz's passport applications are being processed, is also dealing with a backlog of document orders, leading to longer wait times.
6. While the City of Chemnitz awaits the arrival of additional machines in winter to ease the production time, some citizens are considering alternative means of travel, like visiting nearby cities in Saxony like Leipzig or even Dresden.
7. The EU has not yet released any official statements regarding the delays in passport issuance, but some agencies fear this could impact cross-border tourism and trade within the union.
8. As Chemnitz residents continue to patiently wait for their passports, some are making the most of this situation by exploring local attractions like the City Museum and the Karl-Marx Monument in their preferred hometown, rediscovering the charm and history of their own Big city.

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